Michael Porter Jr. scored a season-high tying 35 points and the Brooklyn Nets led virtually the entire way in a 119-101 victory over the NBA-worst New Orleans Pelicans Saturday in New York.
The Nets won for the third time in four games thanks to Porter’s third straight 30-point game and eighth overall. Brooklyn also improved to 5-6 in its past 11 since dropping 11 of its first 12.
Porter made 14 of 23 shots, including 5 of 10 3-pointers. He also added nine rebounds as the Nets led by as many as 28.
Day’Ron Sharpe added 16 off the bench on 7-of-8 shooting as the Nets totaled 66 points in the paint. Nic Claxton totaled 14 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds and notched his second career triple-double as the Nets shot 52.8% for their second home win in 12 games this season.
Trey Murphy III scored 23 but the Pelicans dropped their sixth straight. New Orleans dropped to 3-21 overall and 1-11 under interim coach James Borrego.
Saddiq Bey contributed 18 and Bryce McGowans finished with 16 as the Pelicans shot 45.1% and only led twice early in the first quarter. New Orleans shot 9 of 25 from 3-point range, committed 17 turnovers and was outrebounded 45-36 in its latest loss.
Brooklyn shot 63.6% for a 35-24 lead through the opening quarter. Porter hit three 3s in the final 3:04 of the first half to help the Nets open a 62-44 lead by halftime and the Nets put things away early in the third.
The Nets scored 11 straight and opened a 73-48 lead on an easy drive by Demin with 8:50 left. Brooklyn’s lead reached 92-64 on a dunk by Ziare Williams, who hit his nose on the rim after getting the pass from Porter with about three minutes left.
A late spurt by the Pelicans cut the deficit to 96-75 entering the fourth but the Nets took a 101-80 lead when Claxton rebounded his missed free throw and converted the putback dunk with 8:59 left
